It has been a while since there has been a significant shake-up of the top twenty baby names. Last year Theodore squeaked into the top 10, pushing out Alexander and Ava; Amelia, Sophia, and Charlotte swapped places. But, looking forward to the baby name trends for 2023, experts (it's a thing) are expecting a new era of upbeat and creative names instead of slight tweaks to go-to names. According to Nameberry founder Ram Redmond, "As in the 1920s and 60s, there's a wish to leave everything from the 'before' times behind," says Redmond. "In the 20s, it came after the flu epidemic, World War I, and the Russian and Irish revolutions. In the 60s, it followed World War II and the conservative 1950s." So here's what's ahead if you're searching for a perfectly unique baby name. 

Baby Name Popularity Shifts From Trendy Names to Name Styles

Just as we're seeing a renewed interest in cultivating a distinctive style that works for you in the fashion and home spaces, we're seeing the same fragmentation in baby name trends. Baby name trends are becoming more fragmented as parents draw inspiration from diverse family backgrounds, cultural references, and other sources. Rather than following popular trends, parents increasingly seek unique and individualized names for their children. Instead, look for micro-trends that are local favorites or tied to a hyper-specific group. Case in point, influencers feuding over being the first to name their child Baby. 

Yellowstone Effect

When we took to TikTok to talk about all things Western baby names, you had a lot of thoughts. If you're in western states, these names unsurprisingly never went anywhere, but these names are having a Yellowstone moment. It makes sense as young families lean into remote work; more have rugged, rural names to suit the new outdoorsy idea. Even if you live on 14th Street, Western-inspired names feel rugged or zippy. Names like Harlan, "living in the wood," Aspen, and Colter, "to look after horses," are inspired by a sense of place. Likewise, Waylon, Wyatt, Bonnie, and Levi pull inspiration from notables of the west.

● Hawkins is an English name meaning "son of Hawkin" and the creepiest town in Stranger Things.

● Harlan is a name of English origin that means "hare land" or "rocky land" and feels strong and sturdy as an oak tree.

●Hank is a diminutive of the name Henry, which means "ruler of the household," and feels as simple and classic as blue jeans for a baby who will keep things down to earth.

● Ace is of Latin origin and means "one, unity" or "noble."

● Maverick is a name that comes from an English surname and means "independent, nonconformist" - try Mav for short.

● Riggs is a surname from England and means "dweller by the ridge," and is tough and gritty as a rough-and-tumble cowboy and perfect for a baby who will never back down.

● Clementine is of French origin and means "mild, merciful." It's refreshing with a sunny California disposition. Try Clem or Clemmie for short.

● Mabel is of English origin and means "lovable" and has a vintage vibe.

● Dorothy is as timeless and iconic as ruby slippers and perfect for a baby who will always have a sense of adventure.

● Aspen is cool and refreshing as a mountain breeze and perfect for a baby who will always keep things fresh.

● Birch is sleek and modern as Scandinavian design and perfect for a baby who will always be ahead of the trends.

● Della is a diminutive of the name Adele, which means "noble" or "kind," and is s soulful as a gospel hymn and perfect for a baby who will always have a heart full of love.

● Everest is a name of English origin, inspired by the famous mountain peak of the same name.

● Koda is a modern take on Dakota and means "friend or ally."

The X,Y, Z Effect

It's bold! Beyond Zoe, there are surprising options that make good use of the end of the alphabet for a striking first impression.

● Zora is a name of Slavic origin that means "dawn" and can also nod to Zora Neale Hurston the a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance.

● Kenzo is a Japanese name meaning "wise" and a famous fashion designer.

● Virgil is a name of Latin origin that means "staff bearer," and was the name of a famous Roman poet and fashion designer.

● Zephyr, of Greek origin, means "west wind" and is perfect for the little breeze in your life.

● Ziggy is a name of Greek origin that means "west wind" and is perfect for the little breeze in your life.

● Zelda is a name of Yiddish origin that means "blessed" and was the name of a famous video game character.

● Xavier is a name of Basque origin, meaning "new house," and was also a famous Marvel character.

● Zuri is a name of Swahili origin that means "good" and was the name of a character in The Lion Guard.

● Zia has roots in Italian, Arabic, and Hebrew and can mean "light" or "to shine" so perfect for a little sunshine.

4 Letter Words

Short and snappy four-letter names top popular lists with names like Liam and Emma and classics like Noah, jack, Mila, and Ella, but a new crop could be just the twist on tradition to make the vibe shift.

● Raya is a name of Hebrew origin that means "friend" and has a Disney princess association with the movie Raya and the Last Dragon.

● Vida is a Spanish name that means "life" and makes you want to seize the day and live your best life.

● Elio is a name of Italian origin that means "sun" and was also the name of the main character in the novel "Call Me By Your Name" by André Aciman.

●Navy is a unisex name inspired by the color and gives you strong, confident, cool vibes.

●Yara is a name of Brazilian and Arabic origin that means "water lady" and is also the name of a character in the TV show "Black-ish" and the actress who plays her.

● York is a name of English origin that means "yew tree estate" and reminds you of the trendy city in Northern England.

● Nico is a name of Greek origin that means "victory of the people" and was also the name of the lead singer of the band The Velvet Underground.

● Esti is a diminutive of the name Esther, which means "star," and the name of a character in the Netflix series "Unorthodox."

● Eden is a name of Hebrew origin that means "delight" and gives you a sense of paradise, perfect for your little bundle of joy.

● Romy is a name of Latin origin that means "from Rome" and also reminds you of the iconic actress Romy Schneider.

Color & Shine

What's happier than bright, shiny names that evoke light and color imagery?

● Goldie is a name that's as precious as its metal namesake, often a nickname for Marigold, but bouncy on its own.

● Amethyst is a cheerful name for a February baby.

● Iris can evoke the flower or the Greek goddess of the rainbow.

● Luna stems from the Roman goddess of the moon and is an alternative to Aurora, Nova, or Stella.  

● Soleil, a rare French name meaning sun, was made notable in the US by Soleil Moon Frye. 

● Halo, is an angelic take on the Greek halos and symbolizes the divine. 

● Opal, the iridescent stone, was a popular name around the turn of the century and had been having a moment with other gemstone names like Ruby and Pearl. 

Names That Don't Take Themselves Too Seriously

Royal watchers may have been surprised when Prince Harry and Meghan named their children Archie and Lilibet, what would have been sweet private family nicknames a generation ago. However, we're seeing this style shift as families become more low-key and skip the pretense of a more formal name they'll rarely use.

• ● Tate is an English name meaning cheerful and was originally a short form of Tatum.
• ● Sam is a Hebrew name that means "heard by God," often a nickname for Samuel or Samantha.
• ● Albie is derived from the Old German Albert and means "noble and bright."
• ● Rex, fit for a little king, is a Latin name often used in the Roman Empire as a title for royalty.
• ● Rafi is a Hebrew name meaning "God has healed" that 80s babies probably think about in the same breath as Baby Beluga. Shorten even more to the affable Raf.
• ● Cal, the short form of Calvin, is as calm and confident as a California surfer.
• ● Cleo is a Greek name meaning "glory" or "praise" and is often associated with the famous Egyptian queen, Cleopatra–and, of course, the ubiquitous '90s Miss Cleo.
• ● Tiggy is a cute nickname often given to children named Tighearnach, an Irish name we don't think anyone will miss.
• ● Tilly is a shortened version of the German name Matilda, which means "strength in battle."
• ● Mac is a Scottish name meaning "son of" used as a prefix for various Scottish surnames.
• ● Wes is an English name derived from the surname Wesley, which means "western meadow."

Cool Unisex Names

Names that don't skew feminine or masculine leave space for kids to explore their identity – and mean you only need to negotiate one name with your partner.

• ● Rafe is a name that's edgy and cool, perfect for a baby who will always march to the beat of their own drum.
• ● Kit is playful, perfect for a baby who will always be full of surprises.
• ● Ocean evokes a serene calm sea.
• ● Alix is a quirky Euro alternative to the common English name Alex.
• ● Denver is rugged and adventurous as the Rocky Mountains, perfect for a baby who will always be up for a challenge.
• ● Scout is a delightful option for a curious and fearless young explorer.
• ● Ina is a diminutive of the name Irena, which means "peace" in various languages and could make you feel zen just saying it out loud. Who wouldn't want to share a name with the Queen of the Kitchen?
• ● Kai is a name of Hawaiian and Scandinavian origin that means "sea" or "ocean," and might make you crave a tropical vacation.
• ● Rowan, of Irish and Scottish origin means "little red one" and brings to mind the image of a cute little redhead.
• ● Reese is a Welsh name that means "enthusiasm" and a delicious peanut butter cup you can't resist.
• ● River is a name inspired by nature and gives you the vibe of a free spirit with its watery associations.
• ● Tatum means "cheerful bringer of joy," which derives from the village of Tatham. 

The New Nature Names

While baby name inspired by the natural world are always in vogue, the vibe shift could bring in a new focus on nature baby names that are short, cute and to-the-point. Past iterations like Delphine and Marguerite slewed toward flower names en francaise, this new crop are more direct like Daisy, Pear, and Rocky. 

• ● Willow trees have sloping branches and narrow leaves, like the name's gentle sound. It can symbolize new life as if you plant a willow branch in the ground; a new one will grow in its place.
• ● Meadow refers to a field of grass and flowers, and is of English origin. Enough time has passed that her classmates probably won't think about the classic Sopranos character. 
• ● Phoenix, of Greek origin, refers to a mythical bird that rises from the ashes, more recently made famous by Actor Joaquin Phoenix.
• ● Fern: This name of Old English origin refers to a green plant with delicate leaves and has a vintage feel.
• ● Hazel comes from the name for a hazel tree or shrub from the Old English word, hæsel, and can also refer to having brownish-green eyes – a pretty alternative to Violet.
• ● Ivy refers to the climbing plant with evergreen leaves made famous when Beyoncé and Jay-Z named their daughter Blue Ivy.
• ● Sky, stemming from the Old Norse ský meaning cloud, is a short, sweet, unisex name that conjures pretty starry nights and the cosmos.
• ● Sage is a unisex name (Sly Stallone named his son Sage), and while it refers to the aromatic plant, the Latin origin means wise and healthy.
• ● Aurora evokes the natural light display in the sky, also known as the Northern or Southern Lights as well as Sleeping Beauty. 
• ● Daisy means "day's eye," Daisy is a flower name and has been popular for centuries. Daisy Ridley is a famous actress known for her role in the "Star Wars" franchise.
• ● Blossom is a noun and a verb, meaning to flourish or thrive, perfect for a spring baby. An 80s baby may also remember Mayim Bialik in the spunky role of the same name.
• ● Clover is a perky, lucky name and an attractive alternative to floral names like Rose, Lily, or Iris.
• ● Rocky traditionally means rest or as a short form of Rocco, but nowadays, it has an edge thanks to the infamous movie franchise.
• ● Clay has a strong, earthy sound – a one syllable word with a Southern feel. Boxing legend Muhammad Ali's birth name was Cassius Clay.
• ● Wren refers to a small, active songbird with a loud and beautiful voice.
• ● Sunny, the bright and cheerful weather is a fun unisex name. Sunny Leone is an Indian-American actress and model.
• ● Windy, similar to Wendy, meaning "friend," and a song made famous by The Association released in 1967.
• ● Cosima sounds otherworldly and enchanting as the cosmos it evokes, perfect for adding a touch of magic.
• ● Aurelia is a girl's name of Latin origin, meaning "the golden one," traced back to the ancient Roman Marcus Aurelius.
• ● Cressinda means "gold" and has links to Greek mythology, which is just right for a heroine.
• ● Flora is the Roman goddess of springtime and an old-fashioned name ready for a comeback. 
• ● Bluebell was in vogue at the end of the 19th century in Britain when flower names were the thing to do but lost favor. The flower can be seen as a sign of gratitude and grows wild in the countryside.
• ● Pear, along with Plum and Clementine, is a new trend of fruit-inspired names. 
• ● Posy is a delicate nostalgic name along the same lines as Poppy and Marigold. 

1920s Baby Names

Everything old is new again, and the same goes for baby name trends in 2023. So we looked back to names popular in 1923 with fresh eyes.

● Edith, an English and Old German name, means "rich battle." Despite its not-so-cute meaning, it can go strong like Edith Wharton or soft with the nickname Edie.

● Minnie is a diminutive of Wilhelmina, which has Germanic roots and means "willful protector." The name also nods to the cute mouse, making it a name that contains multitudes.

● Ida, which means "hardworking," is a spunky name with just three letters.

● Agnes comes from the Greek word "pure," but art lovers may also think of contemporary greats Agnes Martin or Agnes Gund.

● Nellie is a diminutive of Helen, meaning "bright, shining one."

● Lula is an Arabic name meaning "pearls" and a nickname for Louise. It gained popularity from the 1880s to the 1930s.

● Inez, of Spanish origin, means "pure, chaste," It also has a sultry and mysterious feel like a Spanish telenovela.

● Harold is of Old English origin and means "army ruler." Still, it also reminds us of Harold and the Purple Crayon's childlike curiosity.

● Albert, an Old German name, means "noble, bright" and has been popular for centuries.

● Roscoe is of Old Norse origin and means "deer forest." It was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and has a Wild West energy fitting for 2023.

● Ollie is a diminutive of Oliver, which has Old Norse roots and means "elf army" for those into elves.

Song Birds

Sure, not all these songs are cheerful, but they're earworms worth returning to for baby name inspiration. 

● Billie Jean - Michael Jackson

● Layla - Eric Clapton

● Roxanne - The Police

● Jude - The Beatles

● Eleanor - The Beatles

● Lola - The Kinks

● Jolene - Dolly Parton

● Lola - Volbeat

● Cecilia - Simon & Garfunkel

● Gloria - The Doots

● Buddy - Weezer

● Luka - Suzanne Vega

Once you've named your sweet babe, it's time to start on your baby registry and picking out the perfect tiny baby clothes.